At 1/29/02 10:29 AM, Blane wrote:
>Dr Taylor from KS has some data that suggests the african and european bees may be different species from a biological point of view.

******************************************
Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
[log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] wrote>>>

"What does this mean? Species can *only* be defined from a biological point of view, there is no other point of view from which to define species. Further, data indicate nothing in themselves; they must be interpreted. However, the fact that they interbred so easily would tend to discount the need for classifying them as separate species. On what basis would such a division be made? It is worth noting, again, that taxonomists tend to be either lumpers or splitters, and that in many cases there are not arbitrary divisions present between organisms."

Horses and donkeys also interbreed easily but the offspring are a reproductive dead end.  This also appears to be at least somewhat the case with honey bees from africa and europe.  The hybrid offspring may appear to be fertile but their offspring don't survive so what is the practical difference?  If the honey bees from southern africa are a different species how they interact with honey bees from europe will be different than if they are a race or strain of the same species.  The practical management of the insects will be somewhat different as well.

Taxonomists also are often fooled by species that though different appear very similar and sorting out this situation often leads to better understanding and much improved management of the populations in question whether they are considered pests or beneficial.  One thing should be clear - we need to better understand the interactions between these honey bee populations as the african honey bees move further north.

FWIW

blane